Allen Craig will likely be out for the 2013 postseason. / Benny Sieu, USA TODAY Sports

by Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports

by Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Cardinals All-Star first baseman Allen Craig likely will be sidelined until at least mid-October because of a left foot injury, Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said Friday, and may not even be ready if the Cardinals reach the World Series.

"As optimistic as we were when it first happened,'' Mozeliak said, "the reality is that have to take a very conservative approach. To try to rush him or push him to get back is going to put him in peril.

"Do we have some optimism if we play deep into October, (that) he still could be available, the answer is yes. But, as far as the short-term look, no.

"I'd be shocked if something miraculous happened in the next six or seven days."

Craig, who was hitting .315 and a major-league leading .454 with runners in scoring position to go along with his team-high 97 runs for the Cardinals, sprained his foot Sept. 4. He still is in a protective walking boot. He could be available to pinch-hit if the Cardinals advance to the National League Championship Series, but he likely couldn't play the field.

"It's pretty devastating not to be able to finish the season with the team,'' Craig said. "It's really frustrating, but I'm trying to move on from it.

"I'm going to recover fully and there's a good chance I can recover by the end of the season. If we can get to the NLCS or World Series, you never know.''

The Cardinals will continue to use Matt Adams, who has flourished since replacing Craig. He has hit eight homers with 15 RBI in Craig's absence.

The loss of the right-handed hitting Craig could be troublesome against left-handed pitchers, particularly the Dodgers, with ace Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu.

If the Cardinals finish with the best record in the National League, they would play the wild-card winner in the first round, and couldn't face the Dodgers until the NLCS, when Craig would perhaps be available. Yet, if they rush him back, Mozeliak said, it could lead to further damage that would put his 2014 season in jeopardy.

"The severity could be from a career issue,'' Mozeliak said, "to definitely a large part of next season.''